Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-01-21
CHAPTER XVI.
THE AMBUSCADE.


of the greatest benefit to Harry Glen Since
his parting with Rachel Bond there had been
going on in his spirit a fermentation like that
with which good wine discharges itself of its
grossness and impurities, and becomes clear
and fine. In this process had vanished the
absorbing scliishncss of n much INDUCED only
son, and the sIpercilious egotism which came
as an almost necessary result of his college
curriculum. This spiritual ripcnng received
its perlecting color and bloom from the
serene eXaltation of Aunt Dcbby's soul. So
filled was she with lofty devotion to the
cause, so complete her faith in its holiness,
and so uuquestionlug her belief that it was
every ones simple duty to brave all danger
for it, and die if need he without a murmur,
that contact with her would have inspired
with pure patriotic ardor nature much less
ready for such leavening than Harrys.
As DR.. Denslow had surmised, his faults
were mainly superficial, and underneath them
was firm grste of manhood which would
speedily harden into bone. With the expert
cnce he had been having, days would mature
this as rapidly as ordinary years. He was
himself hardly aware of the transformation,
but only felt, as his physical exhaustion dis
appeared, a new eagerness to participate
in the great work of the war. lie was
gratifed to know little later that this was
no transient feeling. In the course of the
evening Jim Former came in, with kont Ed
wards and Abe Bolton. After they had all
satisfied their hunger Fortner informed Harry
and Aunt nobhy that the enemy had fallen
back to London, from which point he was send
/ ing ont wagons into the surrounding country
/ to gather up food, forage, arms, clothing,
ammunition, etc., with the double object of
depriving the Union men Of them and adding
the same to the Confederate resources. A
long train had also been sent out to the Goose
creek salt works-twcnty-tive miles northeast
OF London-to bring away II lot Of salt stored
there, OF which the Coniederates had even
more need than Of food.
Fortner proposed to 20 out in the morning
and endeavOr to ca ture some of these wagons.
1t seemed altogether probable that a few
might he caught in such position that their
guards could he killed or driven off.
All readily agreed to this plan, Aunt Debby
leading oir by volunteering to ride ahead on
her mare, as a scout,
Harry suddenly remembered that he was
weaponess. What shall do for Il gun!' he
asked, anXiously.
81 declar, done forgot all bout gittin We
a gun" said Fortner with real concern. My
mind was disturbed by other things" he
=
and Bolton; but they were leaning back in
their chairs fast as-ep. Applejack, fatigue
and hearty supper together made narcotic
too potent to resist.
Fortncr rose, spread n few blankets on the
floor, added a sack of bran for a pillow and
with some difficulty induced the two slcepcrs
to lie down and take their slumbcrs in a more
natural position.
"Ill find ye gum" said Aunt Debby, as
this operation was finished, and walking to 4
farther corner Of the room, she came bach
bearing in her hand a rifle very similar to the
one iOrtncr carried.
Thar she said, setting the dccately
curved braz'n heel down upon the hearth
and holding the muzze at arms length while
she gazed at the gun with the admiration one
cannot help feeling for Il magnificent weapon
"is ez true a rile ez ever man put to hi
shoulder Ef didn't blieve ye ter be ez tru,
ez steel ye shouldn't tech hit, fur hit b'longet
ter the true,t man in this liyin' world
Hit wuz her husbands" explained Fort
ner, as her lips met firmly, as if choking down
bitter memories.
Pm giviu hit ter ye ter use ez he'd a-useC
hit ef he war a-livin'," she said steadying
her tones with a perceptible effort. I'm
glad tibet my hands can put inter yours thu
means ter avenge him."
Harry tried in vain to make an appro
pirate response.
IN clean hit up for ye," she said TO Harry
as she saw FORMER beginning to Turkish VI
his own rife for the next days duties.
That she was no stranger to the work wa
shown by the skill with which she addresse,
herself to it. Nothing that "A Kcntuck,
, mountaineer does has more of the aspect of
labor Of love, than his caring for fine rifle
and any of them would have been put +
shame by the defines Of Aunt Dcbby's sup
pie hands Removing the leathcrn hoo
which protected the lock, she carefully rubbe,
or the hammer and the nipple with wisp o
soft fine tow, and picked out the tube with
nesde. Wrapping another bit of tow aroun
the end of "A wiping stick she mostened
: slightly in her mouth, and carefully swabbe
? out Of the inside Of the barrel every suspicio
+ of dust and dirt. Each of the winding rifle
was made clean and free along It's Who'll
= sourvs Then the tow swab was light